Best vacation destinations for 2025
What do you want to experience in 2024? The world is a big, wide-open place and it can be hard to decide. Here are the top ten destinations that are calling out to us. You might take a river cruise on the Nile to admire tombs and temples, track tigers and join cooking classes in India, immerse yourself in meaningful cultural experiences in Thailand, or enjoy some rest and relaxation mixed with guided nature walks on Australia’s Kangaroo Island.
Pick your destination:
3. Japan
Fewer crowds & Ghibli Park
From the electric streets of Tokyo to the lantern-lit alleys of Kyoto, Japan is always a popular destination. However, last year was particularly busy thanks to a build-up of demand. We expect 2024 to be less hectic, making it a more relaxed and rewarding time to visit.
You might visit the newly opened Ghibli Park to plunge yourself into the whimsical world of animated films like Kiki’s Delivery Service, explore Kyoto’s geisha district with an expert, or sample chankonabe, a hearty meat stew served to sumo wrestlers. We also can steer you to the less-visited cherry blossom sights, like Tohoku.
For something completely away from the crowds, consider visiting Kyoto-by-the-Sea, a centuries-old artisan colony. Here, you can visit a traditional swordsmith, visit a kimono maker who weaves mother of pearl into the fabric, and admire the Bridge to Heaven, considered one of the three best views in Japan.
Get me there: You could visit Ghibli Park on a trip inspired by our family adventure through Japan itinerary idea.
Extend your trip: You might want to spend a few days — or a whole week — exploring South Korea as a family to compare the two countries’ cultures.
Explore Japan | Japan tours | Japan travel guides
2. Italy
Follow in the footsteps of Poirot
Whether you’ve been inspired by the recent silver-screen version of A Haunting in Venice or you’re just looking for your slice of la dolce vita, Italy is always one of our best-loved destinations. The art cities draw us back time and again and we never tire of admiring Rome’s ruins, Renaissance masterworks in Florence, or the small canals of Venice.
For adventures a bit further from the classic sights, you might consider a visit to Sardinia to lounge on the beaches and meander through mysterious Bronze Age ruins. Or head south to Puglia to see the white-washed stone houses known as trulli and learn to make bread in a fifth-generation bakery.
Get me there: This classic Italy route combines all three art cities with time luxuriating in the Tuscany countryside.
Extend your trip: Combine a trip to Italy with time soaking up the panoramic Swiss Alps from the comfort of a luxury train.
Explore Italy | Italy tours | Italy travel guides
7. Thailand
Cultural immersion & secluded luxury
Pristine, palm-fringed beaches abound in Thailand, but there’s much more to uncover. To experience something a little different in 2024, we recommend heading further inland to immerse yourself in the country’s tapestry of cultures.
For example, you could learn how to cook fragrant Northern Thai dishes with a local family in Chiang Mai, try your hand at wicker weaving with a women’s group in Ban Pong Huai Lan village, or stay in a forested hillside ecolodge that aims to conserve the heritage of the local Lisu community.
If you’d like a little feet-up luxury too, Thailand certainly delivers. According to Variety, the country will be home to the next season of White Lotus, with Thailand’s exclusive Four Seasons hotels in the running for the series’ next luxe resort. We recommend the Four Seasons Tented Camp in Chiang Mai for the most secluded stay. And if Sicily’s White Lotus-led tourism boost is anything to go by, now’s your chance to experience the country’s more sumptuous side before season three hits our screens.
Get me there: Use our Thailand cultural discovery trip idea as inspiration for your cultural exploration through the country.
Extend your trip: With a speedy flight from Bangkok into Siem Reap’s brand-new airport, you can easily explore Cambodia’s ancient temples before or after your trip to Thailand — our itinerary idea shows how your trip could take shape.
Explore Thailand | Thailand tours | Thailand travel guides
8. New Zealand
Epic landscapes, vineyards & Māori culture
Towering stratovolcanoes with snow-kissed peaks, jagged mountains reflected in mirror-smooth water, vast beaches that seem to never end, bubbling mudpots, caves lit by glow worms… New Zealand’s natural beauty has inspired myths from ancient Māori beliefs to modern day cinematographers on the Tolkien TV series, Rings of Power.
We can help you explore these mythic landscapes on guided tours intended to help you connect with the natural world — kayak along Queen Charlotte Sound, walk among the seals on Tonga Bay, swim with dolphins, or take a cruise to the many corners of the country that you can’t reach on land. We’ll also help you explore Māori culture — visit spiritual sights in Auckland or the Waipoua Forest. And, of course, you can sample the renowned wines that are produced here on tours of Blenheim or Hawke’s Bay’s vineyards.
Get me there: This highlights tour includes a chance to sample wines, journey by train, and visit Milford Sound.
Explore New Zealand | New Zealand tours | New Zealand travel guides
4. South Africa
Big Five safaris, wine tasting & whale watching
Few countries pack as much into their borders as South Africa, making it one of our best-loved destinations. Thanks to the venerable Kruger National Park and the private reserves that border it, it’s well-known as a safari destination, but you can also see the Big Five elsewhere, including the Madikwe Game Reserve.
There’s so much more to South Africa, too — you can indulge in history and culture in cool, cosmopolitan Cape Town. (In 2023, nearby Robben Island will mark ten years since the death of its most famous prisoner, President Nelson Mandela.) On a driving tour of the Winelands, you can sip local vintages while admiring the landscape of expansive vineyards against a backdrop of mountains. And, along the windswept Garden Route, you can soak up the coastal views and keep your eyes peeled for migrating whales.
Get me there: Journey by rail as part of a trip that takes you from Kruger to Cape Town, including a guided tour of Robben Island and a visit to the Winelands.
Explore South Africa | South Africa tours | South Africa travel guides
2. Canada
As seen on TV
Always a destination on people’s lips, Canada has turned even more heads this year after the success of the Race Across the World TV series, which saw contestants travel from the far west to the far east of the country on a shoestring. As well as showcasing Canada’s grand-scale landscapes, Indigenous cultures, and diverse cities, the series shone a light on the warmth of its people.
While you may not be planning an epic cross-country adventure, we can help you hone in on the places and experiences that capture your interests.
You might like to stand small among sky-punching mountains and hike around the glacial lakes that lie at their feet, join walking tours in Toronto, Montréal, and Québec that focus on their history and food scenes, or adopt a slower pace on a road trip through the Maritime provinces. Along the way, perhaps you’ll call in at Prince Edward Island’s Green Gables Farm to mark the 150th anniversary of author Lucy Maud Montgomery’s birth.
Get me there: Follow our suggested route through the Canadian Rockies, visit the eastern cities by train, or explore the Maritime provinces based on our Maritime treasures itinerary.
Extend your trip: You could combine time in the Canadian Rockies with a cruise along Alaska’s untamed coastline, taking in calving glaciers, whales, and remote Gold Rush towns.
Explore Canada | Canada tours | Canada travel guides
1. India
Tigers, the Taj Mahal & more
The curling smoke of incense, the cinnamon-and-clove sweetness of chai, the bright flash of a tiger’s stripes through the trees, and the soft light of dawn breaking over Agra’s Taj Mahal… any visit to India amounts sensory overload and we love it.
The past few years, we’ve noticed a distinct improvement in the infrastructure for visitors — improved electronic visas, additional flight routes, more reliable trains, and hotels that offer a wealth of immersive experiences. We’re also thrilled to see that sustainability is becoming a higher priority, with more and more options for thoughtful travel.
Because of all this, we believe next year will potentially be a real high-point in Indian travel experiences. You might learn to cook traditional Rajasthani cuisine in Jodhpur, look for tigers in Ranthambhore National Park, or explore Delhi from the back of a bicycle rickshaw.
Get me there: Our Golden Triangle suggested trip lets you explore Delhi, Jaipur, the Taj Mahal, and look for tigers in Ranthambhore National Park.
Extend your trip: Tag on time in Bhutan, where the Trans-Bhutan Trail has recently reopened — you can hike a section when you visit the central part of the country on this itinerary.
Explore India | India tours | India travel guides
6. Egypt
Multi-generational mystery chasing
From 3,000-year-old tombs adorned with surprisingly bright paintings to an eerie avenue of sphinx statues in their hundreds, a trip to Egypt is all about uncovering ancient mysteries. And we’re finding that the country’s pyramids, tombs, and riverside ruins are capturing the imagination of all ages, welcoming more and more multi-generational family adventurers.
Cairo has also been poised to open its doors to the much-anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum for a while now, and 2024 could be the year that it finally does. Sadly, there are no guarantees, but we can arrange for you to have a guided sneak peek during your Egyptian adventure if you’re raring to visit before its official launch.
Then, once you’ve had your fill of history, you can head to the sapphire waters of the Red Sea to unwind and explore underwater worlds. The palm-fringed sands of El Gouna are a relaxing way to end your trip and are particularly good if you’re traveling with children.
Get me there: Storied tombs, river relaxation, and the frenetic streets of Cairo combine in our Cairo and Nile cruise trip idea.
Extend your trip: Venture from ancient Egypt to the Nabatean Kingdom — the living-rock ruins of Petra in Jordan are just a short flight away, making it an ideal travel combination for history lovers.
Explore Egypt | Egypt tours | Egypt travel guides
4. The US
Visit Yellowstone for its 150th anniversary
You don’t need to venture beyond our own borders to find a great destination for outdoor adventures. Whether you’ve been craving sunny tropical beaches or wide-open landscapes and big skies, you’ll find what you’re looking for somewhere in our own vast backyard. Stay at a ranch in the Rockies and learn to lasso like a cowboy or enjoy rustic luxury at our new glamping lodge in Maine. Hike with a guide through the world’s first national park on Yellowstone’s 150th birthday. Zip along California’s glamorous coastline in a convertible. Or, hop between islands in Hawaii, where you can soar over volcanoes by helicopter and snorkel with manta rays at night.
Get me there: Celebrate 150 years of national parks with a 2022 trip to Yellowstone, which includes a ranch stay.